[SeanKosmann]

I have searched throughout the forums and haven't seen a talk about the navigation system itself. So I thought I would start it here. So for everyone that has a nav system in their Ridgeline, please talk about it!

1) Pros

2) Cons

3) Wish it had

4) Amazed that it has

I'm in negotiations for a new 2010 model and am debating if the navigation is worth the extra money, without knowing some honest reviews.

 

[FTM1]

It should be plenty on here about the Nav System.
Most say its a waste of money & that the aftermarket systems are much better. We got it for the bigger screen size & back up cam use as main reason. I have been kind of use to the Honda Nav system for 10yrs.
I have the older model in my 2000 Acura TL & know some of the tricks with using the Nav. I also have used newer ones in loaner Acura vehicles when my car was in for service. The system in the Ridgeline can be fickle at times & is not up to date as the aftermarket ones. The DVD updates cost about $185 but you do not need do them each year unless you are a person that needs every new location & address. We have travel wih the truck in the last 3yrs & the Nav System has not failed in getting us there yet. I have been to 7 Ridgeline Meets in the last 3yrs from Washington, DC or Southern Maryland.
This was Altoona, PA ,St Louis Mo,Long Island NY by way of Pizza Mans, house & they still left me. Columbus Ohio Cape May NJ Hershey Pa & Swartwood NJ.
The only location I had been before was the Hershey Park area. I still used it to get to the hotel & over to a cousins house that I had not been to in 9yrs.
I also like that you can control radio,cd, & climate control functions with Navigation version of the Ridgeline. I this does not matter to you don't get it.

 

[rollinhonda]

I have searched throughout the forums and haven't seen a talk about the navigation system itself. So I thought I would start it here. So for everyone that has a nav system in their Ridgeline, please talk about it!

1) Pros

2) Cons

3) Wish it had

4) Amazed that it has

I'm in negotiations for a new 2010 model and am debating if the navigation is worth the extra money, without knowing some honest reviews.

I'm still shopping for an RL myself, but have my mind made up I don't want the GPS.
I have had it in a car before (Acura), and really, from a GPS standpoint, I did not see any advantage. But that's me, for others they can not do without. My Garmin 760 far exceeds my older Acura one in access speed, etc. But then all GPS are continually improving.
I think HOW OFTEN you expect to use it is a factor to consider.

BUILT-IN

PROs:
Nice big screen, same screen used for the rear view camera, it is less messy than having to mount a portable GPS to the dash, etc. Probably some features you find on very few portables, like voice commands. Controls are nice and big; easy to access. Nice controls also for the radio/CD changer as FTM1 mentions.


CONS:
It is expensive (IMO), as are the DVD updates.

You can now buy some Garmin (for example) models that have lifetime updates included, or you pay $99 for lifetime updates for any model.
That is still cheaper than the cost of one just one DVD update. In fact, many portable GPS are cheaper than one update disk!

PORTABLES

PROs:
Cheaper, easy to update. Even cheap to replace or have repaired compared with an built in system.

CONS:
Small screen, not as aesthetically pleasing hanging off your dash, lacking some convenience features, most do not work on voice commands. (Many do come with a remote which helps some).
Greater risk of break-in if you forget to hide it when parked a long time.

 

[SeanKosmann]

FTM1, yeah, I realized I did the search wrong :act064:

When you say the Nav can controls your A/C and radio, are you talking about with voice commands?

Also, does the Nav have anything to do with the Handsfree feature?

How do those interact?

I guess part of what I was looking for is how good is the detail of the screen/the actually functionality of it. For example, if I use my iphone, the turns and realtime is delayed so it's easy to miss turns, or the picture isn't great so I can't tell which road to take if there is a fork. Do you ever have that kind of issue with the built in Nav?

Rollin

Thanks for the input, that's what I've been toying with. Unfortunately I hate wires hanging around and since I can't have the gps on my windshield, I'm not a big fan of putting it on my dash.

 

[rollinhonda]

Good point, Bluetooth is included with the Nav system, you can't get it otherwise built-into the RL.

I think FTM1 was talking about the total integration of controls for both radio and navi when you get it.
It is well done.

As far as wires hanging, there are lots of creative ways to avoid that with an portable GPS. One is having it in the console and just mounting it temporarily when you need it. That's why I mentioned how often you plan to use it.
Generally, I am only looking for one address or point of interest. I use it until I get there, then I don't need it anymore. Unless I get lost going back... LOL!
(like that's never happened).
I figure well over 90% of the time I am driving with no need for a GPS.
You must be in CA? Can't mount stuff on the windshield, which I actually don't like to do either. I am also going for a 'Dark Cherry'. Great color!!!

 

[cdepuydt]

As far as the navigation system in my RL, if I ever had to do it all over again, would I? Probably not. The portable ones are just as good, if not better, are much less expensive, and the effort to keep them updated is a lot less (expensive). With that being said, I do like the navigation system in my truck. It's fairly intuitive, easy to use, and I like the fact I can use voice commands to set the radio station, temp., etc. I like being able to say things like, "Find nearest gas station" and it finds the nearest gas station for me. Same for resturants, hotels. ATM's, etc. I like the other functions like calculator, calendar, etc. I also like the fact that nobody is gonna walk away with it if I forget it in the vehicle.

Long story short, I would probably not pay the extra money to have the navi again, but I do like it.

 

[rollinhonda]

As far as the navigation system in my RL, if I ever had to do it all over again, would I? Probably not. The portable ones are just as good, if not better, are much less expensive, and the effort to keep them updated is a lot less (expensive). With that being said, I do like the navigation system in my truck. It's fairly intuitive, easy to use, and I like the fact I can use voice commands to set the radio station, temp., etc. I like being able to say things like, "Find nearest gas station" and it finds the nearest gas station for me. Same for resturants, hotels. ATM's, etc. I like the other functions like calculator, calendar, etc. I also like the fact that nobody is gonna walk away with it if I forget it in the vehicle.

Long story short, I would probably not pay the extra money to have the navi again, but I do like it.

Excellent points for it though~

 

[SeanKosmann]

I think I like the sleek look of having everything indash and in one area, I don't have to worry about the charging coord getting in the way, or getting pulled over for it not being in the right position.

Also I like the review camera, because I drive a Acura RSX Type-S, so I'm used to small and speedy. I think the camera will help me with getting used to a much bigger vehicle. Also I've had issues ever getting the gps systems to actually work handsfree with my phone. I would love to be able to talk and hear people without having to have an earpiece or pick up my phone or even not hear my phone when it rings!

But it sounds like this has all be covered and works well with this new system?

Those are some good points, I didn't know about the calendar.... can you sync that up your phone at all??

Also, I just want to make sure, I know I had read somewhere about the car telling you things about tire inflation and other mechanical things, do you have to have the GPS for these features?

 

[cdepuydt]

I'm like you Sean, I like things to look like they belong, just not tacked on. I like the fact that the GPS screen looks like it was meant to be there and not an after-thought. I also like it when you push that little button, the screen slides down, and exposes the CD player behind it. Every time I show folks that, they're response is always the same, "...oh, man, that is so cool...!" :act024:

That is one thing I would like to add to my truck, the rear view camera. The one thing, besides the price, that was holding me back is that the older models had the big camera "lump" on the tailgate. It looked totally outta place. I understand a few folks have retrofitted thier trucks with the newer camera location (in the handle of the tailgate) and I would like to have the camera there on my truck.

As far as the GPS working with your phone, I would have to have somebody who has hooked up their phone answer that. Plus, I think that is functionality is only available in newer trucks, as I don't think my 06' has that capability. On the calendar syncing with your phone, again, I would have to defer that question to somebody else who has a newer truck.

As far as the Tire Pressure Montoring System and "mechanical things" being exclusively available to vehicles with the navigation system...no, those monitoring systems are available on all trim levels of the RL. The TPMS has an indicator on the dash, the maintainence schedule is shown where the odometer is, and other warning lights (like the get your vehicle service now light) are located in the dash in the instrument cluster. So, long story short, you do not need to get the navigation system to get the other monitoring indicators.

 

[cdepuydt]

Excellent points for it though~

Yeah, like I said, I think they charge way too much for the system, and if I had to do it all over again, I probably would not spend the money, but I do like it.

 

[mevers]

I agree with most of the things that have already been said. The OEM nav is not nearly as feature rich as an aftermarket but costs way more. If you took the $2k cost of the OEM to a car audio shop you could get something akin to a Pimp My Ride type system.

One thing that I don't believe has been mentioned yet but was a big consideration for me, which drove the decision to purchase the factory nav instead of something aftermarket was theft. If you live in an area where car break ins are common and that is a concern for you then OEM is the way to go.

That being said if I were purchasing a new Ridge today knowing what I know now I would probably not get the nav. It's not often that I find myself in a situation where I don't know where I am going so the factory nav system doesn't get much use for me.

 

[Nimbus1]

I guess I'd say that, except for the price, I like mine. I got it for the back up camera because otherwise, trailering my boat would be a 2-person job and it works great for that. The NAV has been very reliable, easy to use, and has some very nice features, some of which I'm still learning. It's just too darned expensive, relative to the portable GPS units and with smart phones all getting NAV functions, the portable units are going to be even less. Honda really needs to lighten up on the money-making NAV scheme.

 

[ridgeline2006]

Can anyone tell what I am overlooking here. My OEM Nav back lighting is not changing to the evening lighting. I have it set on AUTO so it should change at a certain time in the evening or when I turn my head lights on. If I go to setup and change from AUTO to NIGHT it will go to the night setting. What am I overlooking? It seems that it is going to be something easy and I guess I am looking for something more difficult.

 

[jnc2000]

Can anyone tell what I am overlooking here. My OEM Nav back lighting is not changing to the evening lighting. I have it set on AUTO so it should change at a certain time in the evening or when I turn my head lights on. If I go to setup and change from AUTO to NIGHT it will go to the night setting. What am I overlooking? It seems that it is going to be something easy and I guess I am looking for something more difficult.

Your dimmer switch is all the way up. This will cause the OEM NAV to display in daytime mode only, unless you manually change it.

 

[zroger73]

Some more advantages of factory navigation...

Dead reckoning. If you lose GPS signal (tunnel, tall building, etc.), the navi will use the vehicle's speed input and yaw sensor to keep your position on the map updated. Most portable GPS units will simply stop until the reacquire a signal.

Compass. An internal compass will keep your position pointed in the right direction when starting out. Most portable units require you to be moving to determine heading.

Climate control. The Ridgeline's HVAC system uses solar angle data obtained from the GPS to fine-tune driver and passenger temperatures.

 

[rollinhonda]

Some more advantages of factory navigation...

Dead reckoning. If you lose GPS signal (tunnel, tall building, etc.), the navi will use the vehicle's speed input and yaw sensor to keep your position on the map updated. Most portable GPS units will simply stop until the reacquire a signal.

Compass. An internal compass will keep your position pointed in the right direction when starting out. Most portable units require you to be moving to determine heading.

Climate control. The Ridgeline's HVAC system uses solar angle data obtained from the GPS to fine-tune driver and passenger temperatures.

Dead reckoning can be helpful. The older Garmin 2700 series had that as an option, although I don't recall it being used very often. But having it integrated into the car is certainly better. It would seem they could have gone just one more step, and done an OnStar setup.

 

[ridgeline2006]

Your dimmer switch is all the way up. This will cause the OEM NAV to display in daytime mode only, unless you manually change it.

Thanks jnc2000 that was the problem. WOW Can't believe it. Well that will not happen again.

 

[ridgerunning]

Most here have already stated it, the GPS on its own is inferior to an aftermarket Garmin. However, the Ridgeline is the largest vehicle I have ever owned and I would buy it again due to the back up camera.
If you are able to do things like install aftermarket back up cameras and integrate them into an after market head unit, more power to ya. Without reading this forum I did not know how successful that some of the guys here have been on doing installs with some quality products, so I went OEM Navi, with no regrets.:hol002:

 

[zroger73]

I found the RLs navi system to be incredibly easy to use. Although it is generations behind newer units that feature higher resolution graphics, bird's eye view, faster processors, and hard drives instead of a DVD-ROM, the simplicity and ease of use is worth it to me. My G35's system had beautiful, high-res graphics, but it was always a pain to find and enter a destination. There is one advantage in a DVD-based system in that it is user-upgradable. Newer hard-drive based systems must be updated by the dealer at a much higher cost than a replacement DVD.

 

[spanman]

Just bought the 2007 RTL with nav. I think it's over rated myself and would not bother to pay extra for it new. I like Garmin soooo much more. Mine is outdated already and the touch screen is slow to accept letters and numbers compared to a portable unit.

The biggest thing is if you are out of warrenty and that sucker goes be ready for sticker shock your talking thousands to replace it, and if you decide to go portable at that point you have to stare at your broken screen forever. Nice if you get it for cheap on a used purchase but I don't recommend paying for it new.

By the way increase your insurance because it puts you way up on the stolen car hit parade. just my 2 cents.